Mountain rescue nurse is the people’s winner at national nursing awards

The award, sponsored by The Sunday Post, is the public’s chance to acknowledge a member of nursing staff who they believe has made a difference and gone that extra mile to ensure the highest standards of care.

As a critical care nurse of almost 40 years, Rhona leads efforts in medication governance and quality improvement for detecting and managing deteriorating patients, including training staff on early warning systems. In addition to her NHS work, Rhona has volunteered for 15 years with the busy Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team, responding to emergencies in challenging conditions. As a key medical officer, she supports both patient care and the wellbeing of her fellow rescuers, having initiated support systems for those affected by traumatic incidents, including fatalities. Her humility, dedication, and broad experience—including delivering lambs on a farm and continuing a rescue mission despite a fractured ankle—reflect her exceptional commitment to saving lives.

The judges praised Rhona’s commitment to knowing her patient groups and understanding the challenges they can face in a rural community. Head judge, Norman Provan, said: “We were particularly impressed with how Rhona is using her nursing expertise to support her role in mountain rescue, delivering emergency nursing care to those in need and supporting smooth transitions from mountain to A&E.”

Congratulating Rhona on her win, Colin Poolman, RCN Scotland Executive Director said: “Day in and day out nursing staff touch the lives of the people they care for, often playing down the impact they can have on patients’ lives. Rhona clearly demonstrates not only the valuable skills that nurses possess, but also that, given the right tools and support, nurses are capable of making a real difference.”

Congratulations also go to our runner up Anne Gregg from NHS Orkney who was nominated for her support for a young leukaemia patient, and our highly commended Rachael Nixon from Aberlour Childcare Trust who was nominated for her charity work to raise the number of stem cell donors.

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